Switch device for electric irons



July 8, 1930. J. wA PATRICK 1,770,241

SWITCH DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC IRONSl Filed June 26, 192B Patented July 8, 1930 UNITED STATI-:s

PATENT. OFFICE JOHN WILLIAM PATRICK, OF ESSENDON, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, ASSIGNOR F ONE- HALF TO HORACE NORMAN FURZER, 0F MONT ALBERT, AUSTRALIA.

SWITCH DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC IRONS Application tlled June 26, 1928, Serial No. 288,432, and in Australia J'uly 21, 1927.

This invention relates to safety switches v for electric irons and refers more particularly to an improved switch device whereby the supply of electric current to the heating f element of the iron may be positively cut off immediately the iron is released by the hand of the operator.

Previous safety switch devices for electric irons have been automatically controlled by a fusible pin or thermostat arrangement wherebyy in the event of the iron becoming excessively heated the switch will automatically operate to cut off the current supply to the heating element. Such previous devices have, however, possessed the disadvantage that in the event of the iron being left face downwardly upon a fabric or like surface it vmay generate sufficient heat to damage or destroy the fabric before the switch automatically opens to cut off the current.

Electric irons are also commonly provided at the rear end or heel with a rest uponwhich the iron may be stood in a substantially upright position when it is left unattended. It

5 sometimes occurs, however, that the operator omits to stand the iron upon this rest, but leaves it face downwardly upon a cloth or the likek with the result that the latter maybe damaged or destroyed even though the iron is left for a short period only.

According to another known safety device a switch is fitted within a handle of anelectric iron and adapted to be automatically closed by the pressure of the operators hand when the handle of the iron is gripped for use, the switch and the heating circuit being automatically opened upon release of the grip of the handle.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved safety switch device of the kind which is kept closed by the pressure of the operators thumb or hand when the iron is being used and is automatically released and opened when the oper.- ators grip of the handle is released. The improved device also includes automatic means whereby the switch is ke t closed and the iron thus heated whilst it is eft standing o, upvardly upon the heel'or rest at its `rear Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1, parts being broken'away for convenience of illustration.

lFigure 3 is a fragmentary side view of said iron standing upon its back rest, showing means for maintaining the switch in a closed position whilst the iron is in such atti.

tude.

Figure 4 is a detail plan view of a bracket adapted to provide a pivotal mounting for a switch operating lever.

The invention includes aswitch of any suitable design 2 which is preferably mount-v ed within a casing 2a upon the top or back of the iron 3 beneath lthe handle 4 thereof, the operating arm 6 of the switch projecting sidewardly through a slot 7 in the side of said casing. The iron is equipped with a suitable electric heating elementy connected in circuit with the switch, and Vmay be provided with the vusualflexible conductor, for leading current' thereto. f

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention the outer end of the switch arm 6-is slotted and pivotall nected as at 8 to a longitudinal rod 9 a apted to slide lengthwise in a suitable guide 11 the forward end of said rod being pivotally connected by means of a. link or thelike 12 to an upstanding control lever 13 the lower end of which is suitably pivoted as at 14 to the backof the ironor to a bracket or extension 16 thereon. i

The upper end of the control lever 13 is located conveniently to thehandle 4 ofthe iron and is preferably provided with a thumb rest 17 against which the thumb of the operator presses and thus closes the switch 2 whilst the handle of the iron 3 is gripped forluse. AIf desired, however, the said leverr 13 may be suitably arranged in relation tok 2y in Vits closedy position when the iron is in use In order to automatically open the switch when the control lever 13 is released, a spring 1S is connected to the aforesaid sliding rod 9 or any other suitable part of the device, for instance7 a tension spring 18 may be connected at its forward end to a pin 19 on said red and at its rear end to a fixed member such as the usual rest 21 which is attached to the rear end or heel of the iron as aforesaid.

lVhen the iron is in use the control lever 13 will be pressed forwardly by the operators hand, as indicated by broken lines in Figure l, and maintained in such position which has the etl'ect ot holding the switch arm 6 in a closedr`7 or on position. Should the iron be lett resting upon its face, the spring 18 owing to the removal of the pressure of the operators hand or thumb from the control lever 13, will automatically move the switch arm G into an open position as seen in Figures l and 2 thus cutting oil' current from the heating element.

The sliding rod 9 may pass through an opening 22 in the rest 2l, the rear end of the rod being preferably provided with a head or enlargement 23 which, when the iron 3 is standing upwardly upon said rest Q1 is adapted to engage the surtacevon which the iron is standing, thereby forcing the sliding rod 9, forwardly as indicated in Figure 3 so as to maint-ain the switch in its closed position. It will thus be evident that the iron may be maintained in a heated state whilst it is lett standing sa'lely upon its rear end or heel.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular construction and arrangement of parts above described as various alterations, modiiications and/or additions may be employed in carrying out the invention without departing from its nature, spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims.

I-Iaving new described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In an electric iron, the combination of a switch connected in circuit with the heating element, a lever pivoted at its lower end to the iron= a connection between said lever and an actuating arm of the switch, said lever being provided at its upper end with a thumb rest located at one side of the handle of the iron so as to be enffaged by the operators thumb when the handle is gripped for use and thereby move and hold the lever in a position to close said switch, and a spring tending to open said switch.

2. In an electric iron, the combination of a switch connected in circuit with the heating element, a lever pivotally connected to the iron and upstanding therefrom, a connection between the lever and the switch, the upper end ot said lever having a head adapted to be engaged by the operators hand when the handle of the iron is gripped for use to thereby swing the lever into a switch closing position, and spring means yieldingly opposing suoli switch closing movement of said lever.

3. In an electric iron, the combination of a switch connected in circuit with the heating element, a lever connected at its lower end to the iron so as to be capable of swinging longitudinally of the iron, a longitudinally slidable rod attached to said lever and operatively connected to said switch, a head or rest at the upper end of said lever adapted to be engaged by the operators thumb when the handle of the iron is gripped for use to thereby swing said lever forwardly to close said switch, and a. spring arranged to yieldingly oppose forward swinging movement of said lever.

4. In an electric iron, a switch connected in circuit with the heating element, a lever pivoted about a transverse axis at its lower end to the iron, a slidable rod connected to said lever and extending lengthwise of the iron, a pin and slot connection between said rod and said switch, said lever having a head or rest located at one side of the handle ofthe iron so as to be engaged by the operatorS thumb when the handle is gripped for use to thereby swing said lever and hold it in position to close said switch, and a spring arranged to yieldingly oppose closing move- 'ment of said switch.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

J. lV. PATRICK.

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